A week of climate action is being held in south Dorset as part of a nationwide campaign.

Residents in Dorchester, Weymouth and Portland are taking part in Great Big Green Week to highlight the need for urgent action on climate and nature ahead of COP26, the United Nation’s climate talks due to be held in Glasgow in November.

Taking place between September 18-26, the climate action campaign known as the Great Big Green Week will see people across the UK organising local festivals and events. The campaign aims to draw attention to climate change and the destruction of the natural world, while also making a connection with these issues in local communities.

The week kicks off with a joint public meeting of Transition Towns and Weymouth Together, where they will discuss issues surrounding growing plants for food and food network security and resilience. This will take place at the Palm House Café, Weymouth, on Saturday, September 18.

On Friday, September 24 the Art and Flowers festival begins at All Saints Church. The Planted Symphony, an interactive audio nature trail, begins at 12.30pm and the Sense of Unity walking event starts from the Swannery car park at 7.30pm.

Saturday, September 25 is the Greener Homes event, where local eco homes throw open their doors so people can see how homes can be made more environmentally friendly and ask the owners about the challenges and opportunities they have faced. The following day is the Great Big Ride, a community bike ride event, starting at 11am at the Palm House. An event to welcome them back will include stalls, food and music.

Graham Lambert, chairman of the Climate and Ecological Emergency Committee at Weymouth Town Council said: “This event will enable local people to celebrate all that is already being done to combat climate change in the area, and to find out more about the sorts of things local groups are doing. Hopefully, as a result, more people will be inspired to join them.”

More events are planned - search for the ‘Weymouth’ event at www.greatbiggreenweek.com to see how local and national events are shaping up, and to find out more.

Residents and organisations including schools, churches, councils, clubs, workplaces and community groups are invited to take part. This could involve organising a party, walk, concert, community stall, climate café or anything else people can think of. Once the time and place of an event is known email dwpgreenweek@gmail.com so it can be added to the list of events for the area.